A record crowd at the MGroup stadium saw Oxford City Women  go through on penalties against Denham United Ladies this afternoon in an epic Adobe Women’s FA Cup tie

Having fallen behind to an early Daisy Baranowski goal, City levelled before the break through top scorer Ellie White. However two second half goals from centre-half Annie Hewitt looked like sending the visitors through until City staged a superb comeback that saw  a White penalty and a last gasp equaliser from Grace Craven to send the game into a penalty shoot-out.

Amid high drama it was City who held their nerves to make it through.

The visitors took the lead after just 6 minutes when Brogan Moore found space six yards out and hit the post only for the rebound to go straight to Baranowski who had the simplest of tasks to roll the ball into the unguarded net.

However City responded well and on 18 were level when Denham ill-advisedly tried to play out from the back and the ball was gifted to White who rarely needs a second invitation to shoot. Keeper Sofia Harris could only turn and chase as the ball rolled gently over the line to make it 1-1.

Namesake Lucy White might have put her side ahead four minutes later but saw her shot saved by Harris and City’s double White forward line was constantly stretching the game by playing on the shoulder of a square Denham backline.

Having controlled the latter parts of the first half City had a let off after five minutes of the second when the outstanding Niamh Cashin saw a free header glance the right-hand post and that was a warning because after 58 minutes the same routine ended with a deep ball finding Hewitt whose header this time sneaked inside that same post.

Stung, City immediately began to throw players forward. Lucy then Ellie White went close but then on 69 minutes Hewitt let fly from long range and the ball flew past keeper Gerrow like an arrow, clipping the bar as it dipped to give the visitors a 3-1 lead.

Back came City once more and on 77 White set up a grandstand finale with her second goal of the game, this time from the spot after she had been brought down. Denham understandably tried to slow the game down as City gambled and tempers became frayed with Chelsea Keary sent off with four minutes to go to add fresh impetus to City's drive for an levller.

In the sixth minute of the five added on we had high drama. Captain Billie Bough-French sent a Hail Mary into the box, the ball bobbled and Craven turned hunter to celebrate her birthday with a joyous equaliser.

And so to penalties.

Tayman scored, Moore levelled. Lester  made it 2-1,  Hewitt made it 2-2. Bough-French hammered home a confident third, Horwood kept her nerve for 3-3. Emily Harris made it 4-3, Cashin failed to casi in with an off target and Ellie White, who else, sent City through among amazing scenes.

What a game. What a team

CITY

Gerrow, Leach, Tayman, Parsons, Harris, E White, L White, Davis, Craven, O’Leary, Bough-French

Subs

Maskell, Ayers, Wellington-Faissal, Prescott-Luke, Lester, Walecki

Att:  458

Report by Chris Williams, pictures Simon Godfrey and Darrell Fisher